budgetsNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Connecticut's Public Media Source for News and IdeasNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94budgetsSun, 18 Mar 2018 11:22:38 +0000budgetshttp://wnpr.org
David DesRochesTeachers from across Connecticut convened at the state Capitol on Friday, asking lawmakers to not increase their pension obligations. Teachers call it the "teacher tax,” and they said it’s asking them to fix a system broken by years of under-funding by the state.Teachers Say State Shouldn't Balance Its Books On Teachers' Backshttp://wnpr.org/post/teachers-say-state-shouldnt-balance-its-books-teachers-backs
87715 as http://wnpr.orgFri, 16 Mar 2018 19:40:21 +0000Teachers Say State Shouldn't Balance Its Books On Teachers' BacksDavid DesRochesConnecticut has spent over $50 million helping schools beef up security since 2013. Some of that money -- $3.2 million -- has gone to private schools, which are reimbursed at a higher rate than many public schools.Connecticut Has Given Private Schools Over $3M In Public Cash For Security Upgradeshttp://wnpr.org/post/connecticut-has-given-private-schools-over-3m-public-cash-security-upgrades
87333 as http://wnpr.orgMon, 12 Mar 2018 11:15:00 +0000Connecticut Has Given Private Schools Over $3M In Public Cash For Security UpgradesDaniela MarulandaTwo months after the state Department of Transportation halted more than 400 road projects in Connecticut because of budget issues, there’s still no resolution in sight.Connecticut DOT Commissioner Voices Support For Tolls To Fund Needed Projectshttp://wnpr.org/post/connecticut-dot-commissioner-voices-support-tolls-fund-needed-projects
87374 as http://wnpr.orgFri, 09 Mar 2018 19:45:05 +0000Connecticut DOT Commissioner Voices Support For Tolls To Fund Needed ProjectsScott BredeTuesday marked the 20th anniversary of the shooting rampage at the state lottery headquarters in Newington. The horrific event prompted the passage of the state’s so-called “risk warrant” law allowing police to temporarily seize weapons from those deemed a threat to themselves or others.Gun Risk Warrants: What We've Learned Since The Lottery Headquarters Shooting http://wnpr.org/post/gun-risk-warrants-what-weve-learned-lottery-headquarters-shooting
87206 as http://wnpr.orgWed, 07 Mar 2018 02:49:08 +0000Gun Risk Warrants: What We've Learned Since The Lottery Headquarters Shooting In the past decade, the amount of money that students owe for education has more than doubled to almost $1.4 trillion, and tuition for college has increased nearly 400 percent in the last 30 years.Tuition Topping $70k, How To Ease The Burden Of Student Debt?http://wnpr.org/post/tuition-topping-70k-how-ease-burden-student-debt
86715 as http://wnpr.orgFri, 23 Feb 2018 14:00:00 +0000Tuition Topping $70k, How To Ease The Burden Of Student Debt?Much of state lawmakers’ budget-crafting in recent years has focused on cutting spending. Any proposals to raise revenue through new or expanded taxes are almost instantly decried as anti-business in a state increasingly hurting for business.Live From Gateway Community College: Budget Crafting, Casinos, Rob Porterhttp://wnpr.org/post/live-gateway-community-college-budget-crafting-casinos-rob-porter
86245 as http://wnpr.orgWed, 14 Feb 2018 14:00:00 +0000Live From Gateway Community College: Budget Crafting, Casinos, Rob PorterPatrick SkahillLegislators convened in Hartford Tuesday to decry a budget sweep, which took tens of millions of dollars out of energy efficiency programs and swept it into the state's general fund.Lawmakers Criticize Cuts To Energy Efficiency Programs That They Voted For http://wnpr.org/post/lawmakers-criticize-cuts-energy-efficiency-programs-they-voted
86251 as http://wnpr.orgTue, 13 Feb 2018 21:06:26 +0000Lawmakers Criticize Cuts To Energy Efficiency Programs That They Voted For Scott HorsleyUpdated at 2:10 p.m. ET President Trump released his 2019 budget proposal Monday calling for increased spending on the military, border security and the opioid crisis. But the White House blueprint has already been overtaken by events. The two-year budget deal passed by Congress last week boosts spending for both the military and domestic programs by nearly $300 billion over the next two years, complicating White House efforts to reorder federal priorities. "We really thought we could cut a deal with the Democrats that would increase defense spending in order to defend the nation," White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney told Fox News Sunday . "But when the doors closed, what happened was they would not give us a single dollar worth of additional defense spending without giving us additional money for welfare spending and that's just the world we live in." The White House offered an amendment to its 2019 budget to account for the additional spending. It also suggested cuts thatTrump Offers Spending Blueprint, But Congress Already Wrote The Checkhttp://wnpr.org/post/trump-offers-spending-blueprint-congress-already-wrote-check
86184 as http://wnpr.orgMon, 12 Feb 2018 17:37:00 +0000Trump Offers Spending Blueprint, But Congress Already Wrote The CheckJessica TaylorUpdated at 9:07 a.m. ET President Trump signed a bipartisan budget agreement Friday morning, following approval of the bill in Congress shortly before sunrise. The two-year spending pact will let lawmakers spend $300 billion more than current law allows. The deal suspends a 2011 budget law championed by conservatives that set hard caps on discretionary spending and included an automatic trigger known as "sequester" cuts if Congress attempted to bust those spending caps. The bill also included a one-time emergency influx of about $90 billion to help with ongoing recovery efforts for the hurricanes and wildfires that have hit the U.S. in recent months. All told, the bill hikes federal spending about $400 billion through September 2019. Fiscal conservatives squawked at new spending levels. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., delayed the vote on the bipartisan measure to rail against his fellow Republicans for acquiescing to more spending than they ever did under President Barack Obama. The delaysTrump Signs 2-Year Spending Pacthttp://wnpr.org/post/trump-signs-2-year-spending-pact
86065 as http://wnpr.orgFri, 09 Feb 2018 05:04:00 +0000Trump Signs 2-Year Spending PactFrankie GrazianoGovernor Dannel Malloy set the tone of his final State of the State address Wednesday when he said early in his speech that rather than talk about the budget, he would discuss “something that is a simple concept, but also a bold aspiration.”Labor And Social Issues Mark "Fairness" Of Malloy's State Of The Statehttp://wnpr.org/post/labor-and-social-issues-mark-fairness-malloys-state-state
86035 as http://wnpr.orgThu, 08 Feb 2018 19:37:57 +0000Labor And Social Issues Mark "Fairness" Of Malloy's State Of The StateThe state Supreme Court ruled last month that the way Connecticut funds public schools doesn’t violate the state’s constitution.The Next Chapter In School Funding; Exploring Edward Gorey's Worldshttp://wnpr.org/post/next-chapter-school-funding-exploring-edward-goreys-worlds
86009 as http://wnpr.orgThu, 08 Feb 2018 13:09:17 +0000The Next Chapter In School Funding; Exploring Edward Gorey's WorldsKelsey SnellUpdated at 4:52 p.m. ET Senate leaders reached a bipartisan budget agreement to increase military and domestic spending levels for two years, paving the way for the first long-term spending pact since President Trump took office. The White House and House Speaker Paul Ryan quickly declared support for the pact, helping pave the way for its passage by the end of the week, despite opposition from fiscal hawks and liberal Democrats. The plan waives mandatory spending cuts required under a 2011 budget law for two years, which allows for $300 billion in additional spending for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years. The Pentagon will get an additional $80 billion this year and $85 billion next year, while domestic spending is increased by $63 billion this year and $68 billion next year. The agreement was negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and marks a major breakthrough that will make it easier to manage the federal government through Sept.Senators Reach 2-Year Budget Dealhttp://wnpr.org/post/senators-reach-two-year-budget-deal
85990 as http://wnpr.orgWed, 07 Feb 2018 19:42:00 +0000Senators Reach 2-Year Budget DealHarriet JonesGovernor Dannel Malloy avoided the state’s fiscal problems and instead focused on big policy goals as he gave his last State of the State address at the start of the General Assembly’s legislative session.Gov. Malloy Highlights Aspirations In Final State Of The State Speechhttp://wnpr.org/post/gov-malloy-highlights-aspirations-final-state-state-speech
85989 as http://wnpr.orgWed, 07 Feb 2018 19:41:19 +0000Gov. Malloy Highlights Aspirations In Final State Of The State SpeechCatie TalarskiAt noon on Wednesday, Governor Dannel Malloy is delivering his final budget address to the Connecticut General Assembly. He’s already leaked a large part of what he would like to do: cut state aid to certain rich towns, lend a hand to Connecticut taxpayers hurt by the federal tax changes, and make it more expensive to drive on state highways, so we can afford to fix them.Previewing Malloy's State Of The State And A New Legislative Sessionhttp://wnpr.org/post/previewing-malloys-state-state-and-new-legislative-session
85941 as http://wnpr.orgWed, 07 Feb 2018 14:00:00 +0000Previewing Malloy's State Of The State And A New Legislative SessionKelsey SnellUpdated at 6:57 p.m. ET The House passed a bill Tuesday evening to avert a government shutdown on Thursday, as Senate leaders still hope to clear the way for years of budget harmony this week with a long-term spending agreement. But as Congress worked on keeping things running, President Trump made a fresh call to shut down the government over immigration. Trump made the comments during a roundtable briefing at the White House on threats from the MS-13 criminal gang. He appeared to endorse shutting down the government if Democrats do not agree to increases in military spending and funding for a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. "I'd love to see a shutdown if we don't get this taken care of," Trump said. "We need to strengthen our borders, not by a little bit but by a lot." The House bill, approved with mostly GOP votes, would fund the government until March 23, along with a full year of military funding. The Senate is likely to change the deal before passing it — a move thatHouse Passes Funding Extension After Trump Says 'I'd Love To See A Shutdown'http://wnpr.org/post/house-prepares-another-spending-punt
85934 as http://wnpr.orgTue, 06 Feb 2018 19:27:40 +0000House Passes Funding Extension After Trump Says 'I'd Love To See A Shutdown'Harriet JonesGovernor Dannel Malloy has unveiled his proposals to close Connecticut’s latest budget gap, and improve the state’s fiscal outlook in coming years. But it appears his ideas may face opposition in the legislature as the new session gets underway.Governor Dannel Malloy Releases Latest Budget Proposalshttp://wnpr.org/post/governor-dannel-malloy-releases-latest-budget-proposals
85876 as http://wnpr.orgMon, 05 Feb 2018 20:31:46 +0000Governor Dannel Malloy Releases Latest Budget ProposalsJessica TaylorUpdated at 5:06 p.m. ET The federal government is back open for business on Tuesday, but the immigration fight that brought it to a three-day shutdown is far from over. On Monday, Congress passed a stopgap spending bill that funds the government through Feb. 8, with Democrats crossing over to back the measure in exchange for assurances that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would bring an immigration bill to the floor. McConnell said he would pursue legislation to address the legal status of roughly 700,000 immigrants protected by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which will expire in March, as well as border security and other issues. President Trump weighed in on Twitter on Tuesday morning to congratulate his staff for its work over the past several days, after much chatter about how little the president himself was involved in the deal-making. Trump also acknowledged the big task ahead on working out an immigration deal in 16 days. CongressTrump Says 'Nobody Knows' If An Immigration Deal Can Happenhttp://wnpr.org/post/government-reopens-business-immigration-fight-still-looms
85213 as http://wnpr.orgTue, 23 Jan 2018 10:00:00 +0000Trump Says 'Nobody Knows' If An Immigration Deal Can HappenHarriet JonesSupporters of a landmark court case on educational equality in Connecticut say they’ll now take their fight to the legislature, after a Supreme Court ruling went against them.Connecticut Education Advocates Vow To Fight On After Court Defeathttp://wnpr.org/post/connecticut-education-advocates-vow-fight-after-court-defeat
85070 as http://wnpr.orgFri, 19 Jan 2018 16:35:48 +0000Connecticut Education Advocates Vow To Fight On After Court DefeatSusan Davishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye4heQO1v0o Updated at 11:16 p.m. ET A partial government shutdown now looks inevitable after the Senate lacks the votes on a stopgap spending bill late Friday night. The vote was 50-48 in favor of the measure with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., yet to vote. The White House, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats were unable to reach a deal to get to the 60 votes needed to proceed after a flurry of meetings, leading to finger-pointing and blame over who was responsible for the unprecedented shutdown on the one-year anniversary of President Trump's inauguration. Shutdowns are usually the product of divided government, but this likely shutdown would be the first time one occurred when the same party controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House. Republicans stepped up their attacks on Democrats throughout the day Friday, blaming them for forcing the standoff. McConnell, R-Ky., accused Democrats of using immigration as aGovernment Hurtles Toward Midnight Shutdownhttp://wnpr.org/post/president-trump-shutdown-coming
85068 as http://wnpr.orgFri, 19 Jan 2018 16:25:33 +0000Government Hurtles Toward Midnight ShutdownKelsey SnellUpdated at 8:46 p.m. ET The House passed a stopgap funding bill Thursday evening, though the measure now faces uncertainty in the Senate as Republican congressional leaders work to avert a government shutdown by late Friday night. Republicans need 60 votes in the Senate to proceed on the four-week continuing resolution, which would extend funding only until Feb. 16. That is looking more and more difficult after most Democrats and at least three Republican senators have said they won't vote for the bill. The measure passed in the House, 230-197, with 11 Republicans voting against the bill and six Democrats voting for it, after House Freedom Caucus members reached a deal to vote for the bill. The group's chairman, Mark Meadows, R-N.C., had initially said enough of his members would withhold support that the bill would fail with GOP votes only, but about an hour before the vote was expected to begin Meadows told reporters he had received enough concessions from House Speaker Paul Ryan, RHouse Passes Bill To Avoid Government Shutdown, But Senate Prospects Uncertainhttp://wnpr.org/post/trump-tweet-scrambles-efforts-avert-government-shutdown
85030 as http://wnpr.orgThu, 18 Jan 2018 17:08:13 +0000House Passes Bill To Avoid Government Shutdown, But Senate Prospects Uncertain